Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Heard at Our House [ & Missy Update]

* James:  
"Mom, I learned about verps today!  
Running is a verp. 
Verps are action words!"

"Mom, these yellow flowers are called goldenrod."

Etc... all day long. 
He's soaking it all up.

His favorite thing is maps and globes.
Like father, like son. :-)



* The twins were coloring at the table out of the same coloring book. 
A dispute arose over a certain crayon.

Hearing the commotion and not knowing the cause of the ruckus I asked,  

"Are you guys fighting?"

True to his desire to avoid trouble,
James replied. "No." and backed off on the discussion.

Missy, 
always ready for confrontation and action retorts, 

"Yes, we ARE fighting!!!!!!!!



* The kids loved the time spent outdoors and in nature in Idaho. They are game for any kind of hike or adventure. However restful the time was for us big people, it somehow shortchanged the twins on their sleep. It was too exciting to sleep in a loft of a cabin, or something, I guess. By the time we left on Sunday afternoon I was pretty sure we had exchanged Missy for a real live growling bear. Finally I propped her head with two life jackets and told her to close her eyes. In 5 minutes she was snoring.

Since coming home she has not had a tantrum or any kind of serious clash with anyone.

She just simply is. 

She's not taking initiative.

She's not moving forward. 

She's just riding along and seeing what she can get away with.

This morning is a prime example. The twins got up this morning and one went on to his little routine matter-of-factly, fed his rabbits cheerfully, cleaned his room and was ready for breakfast,

the other child avoided each and every little chore, made sure I knew she was not doing what she was suppose to, and wandered around hoping someone would say something so she could engage them in her little game, and when breakfast was called she suddenly decided to get with the program. She showed up for breakfast after everything was cleared away.

The gap between the twins is widening every day. 

I have a big boy and a three year old girl. 

Three years old in her thinking and emotions and behavior, 
but far beyond her 7 years in the art of manipulation. 

I talk to her and explain things on a three year old level. 

We discipline on a three year old level. 

Sometimes it takes some real concentration to react and treat her on her emotional level.... 

she is such a big 7 year old. 

She looks like a big girl.

It's been a long several months of no progress of any kind in anything for her, 
except that she is willing to do some 
pre-school activities now and a again without a major fight. 

Each and every milestone reached with this child has not come 
without blood, sweat and tears. 

She fights change with everything she's got. 

Not sure if there is something I need to tackle next, 
or if we should just ride the waves for awhile and 
let her be.

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